Magnetic Screwdriver

I think the laws of physics are still the same, but I assume this is a very weak effect, a little stronger if you use heat. Not something to use in the age of electricity and strong neodymium magnets.

Google:

Sometimes you want screwdrivers to be magnetic, other times you want them to not be magnetic, luckily there are magnetiser/demagnetisers available, which work through stroking over a specific pattern of permanent magnets, e.g.

Probably available from screwstation at a higher price if you need it today?

I have one of these:

Looks like another example of single-insulated cable for the PAT-testing page on the wiki :-P

Obviously to magnetise you just need any old magnet and stroke repeatedly in the same direction, but it's handy to be able to [almost] reverse the process so every screwdriver you own isn't coated in iron filings, hence recommending the cheapo tool that can do both ...

That would be quite a weak magnet. Stronger would be to stroke the length of a screwdriver, repeatedly with the same pole of a strong magnet. You run the magnet along, always in the same direction, at the end of the stroke, draw away, and back to the start.

You could simply stick a magnet, on the screwdriver, for a temporary magnet.

Been around since at least 1965 (cost £1.12.0!). See "Eagle products at new prices" on page 162 at

I would guess, though I've never tried, that leaving it very close to an AC mains motor or even an old transformer would demagnetise it in time.

You are supposed to slowly draw the item away from the transformer, or whatever, up to <some distance>, before powering off. Otherwise the item is likely to get re-magnetised!

I have no idea how slowly, or how far, you are supposed to do this. The instructions for those tape head demagnetisers used to explain it.

Stroke them on a magnet. Speaker magnets are good as are the magnets retrieved t=from hard disks but any decent magnet will do.

Tried it with some brass screws. Useless.

Re: that comment about sometimes you want a magnetic screwdriver, and sometimes you don't. I suppose you could just magnetise the screw, if you only have a few to deal with.

not surprising _Brass isn't magnetic

I suspect (hope!) that it was meant to bring a smile

Yes - handy for making an improvised compass, nut no much use for holding a screw.

Magnetise as required; stick a strong magnet to the shaft near the handle and slide along and off the tip - rather like you were steeling a knife. Repeat a few times.

(old hard drive magnets work well)

You can also get little plastic cased magnetisers designed for the job, that are also able to demagnetise.

I sometimes find sticking a blob of Black Tack on the end of the screwdriver is just as effective. Has to be the genuine article though , the ebay / Amazon imitations are not as good.

GH

This is exactly what I do. Tool steel seems very good at channeling the field of the attached magnet to the tip of the driver when you want it and very good at forgetting it was ever magnetised when you take the magnet away again. That's ideal for me.

Nick

Unless our Mr Plusnet has recently undergone a sudden personality transplant, I'm convinced of that.

Nick

I couldn't possibly comment.